Wednesday, December 5, 2012

NEW THIS MORNING

Landlords and city, state and federal officials negotiated an agreement to give priority to Superstorm Sandy victims for housing in over 2,500 vacant apartments owned by private landlords across the city, The Wall Street Journal reports: http://on.wsj.com/VlfuJg

MTA Chairman Joe Lhota is seriously considering a run for mayor in New York City, even raising the possibility in a meeting with Mayor Bloomberg on Monday, the Times writes: http://nyti.ms/VvIVy6

The News writes that it is "preposterous" for the New York City Council Districting Commission to hold more public hearings on district maps after revising them again to remove Assemblyman Vito Lopez's residence from a Council district: http://nydn.us/SMdGub

A dozen male public officials shuttled between Williamsburg and Crown Heights last night to greet thousands of Hasidic constituents celebrating the 68th anniversary of their founding rabbi's rescue from Nazi captivity. Brooklyn's Satmar Hasidic community, which is split between two warring sects in a bitter succession battle, held concurrent events at the Marcy and Bedford armories for the holiday. Mayoral candidates Bill Thompson, Bill de Blasio, and John Liu, Councilmembers Domenic Recchia and David Greenfield, state Sen. Eric Adams, and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries made the rounds among the vote-rich Orthodox enclave, while Councilman Steve Levin and former District Leader Lincoln Restler stayed among their respective Zali and Aroni sects that supported them in previous elections. Women were not allowed at either event but Council Speaker Christine Quinn sent her campaign manager Michael DeLoach as her surrogate. It is unlikely either sect would allow Quinn to attend the annual event even if she were elected mayor because of the community's religious practices separating the sexes. One Hasidic source said that Quinn would not be allowed inside but another Hasidic leader said the sect would "make accommodations" for her in the future.